Calculating a periodic function

Question

How do I calculate a periodic function? My question asks to "Calculate a periodic function to model the experimental data. Outline all steps involved using mathematical reasoning, and state why this would be thee most accurate function." How do I create the periodic function? 

Answer 1

What level course is this? There is a way to do this that uses Fourier series. That is what I would do, but is this a pre-calc course? If so I would determine if the data looks even or odd. If it is odd try fitting it with sin(ax) and vary the value of a. If the function looks even try cos(ax). This is a pretty bad question. Is it from a book? Do it on a graph. plot the data and the plot the sin and cosine functions on the same graph.

 

Anyone else have a better idea?